Chapter 8 Chapter 8

Owen's POV

The meeting room was silent for the first few minutes. We all sat around the table, waiting for Coach and the managing director to walk in.

I looked across the table, and there she was. She was sitting right next to Jordan. She looked bright, and it gave me a certain amount of relief as I stared at her from across the table.

"That stuff Penny did wasn't good. Someone needs to talk some sense into that girl so she doesn't keep acting out of line." Mario said, grabbing everyone's attention.

"I agree, but maybe we should hear the boyfriend first", Jordan chipped in, staring at me. Everyone followed his gaze.

I glanced at Sky and back to him.

"I am already reporting her to Coach after this meeting. She really needs to face the consequences for her actions," I said.

I could feel Skyler's gaze on me, but I didn't turn around to look at her. I held my gaze straight on Mario.

"I really do not think it's such a big deal."

Skylar's voice broke through.

We all turned our gaze to her instantly. My gaze on her was particularly intense. My eyes widened in surprise.

She didn't seem moved at all.

Her reaction last night was very different from the exterior she was showing now. It was obvious last night that what Penny did got to her, but right now she's sitting, looking very unbothered about any of this.

"Why? You don't think she deserves to be punished for what she did?" I asked from across the table.

"I never said she doesn't deserve to be punished. I just do not think it's such a big deal. She didn't know what she was talking about. She only wanted to humiliate me, and that's the only thing going on right now, not the gravity of what she's done, but the intention behind it." I said.

Everyone slowly began to exchange glances.

I was particularly confused. I thought she'd be pleased to see that everyone was on her side and trying to get Penny to pay for what she did, but instead she is more interested in making everyone let it go like it was nothing.

I was going to say something when the door burst open. Coach walked in with the director, and the meeting kicked off less than 5 minutes later.

After the meeting, I walked out first, waiting in the middle of the hallway for her to come out. I had waited for about five minutes when she walked out beside Jordan, both talking and smiling at each other.

I looked at Jordan, and his gaze met mine almost immediately. He slowly stopped walking.

That was when Sky turned her gaze to me too.

Her eyes travelled between Jordan and me, and the expression on her face flattened.

She seemed to have noticed something was off. "What is going on with you two?" she asked, walking over slowly.

I straightened up immediately. "Nothing. I'm just impressed at how you're handling this." I lied.

First, something is going on between me and Jordan. I know it's his real intention to come close to Skylar like that, and I do not want to let him get what he wants.

Secondly, I'm not impressed with the way she's handling this. She's taking it too lightly, and I know too well how much Penny can go to destroy something that she feels is getting in her way.

She needs to understand the weight of what is going on and face it with the same energy they are dishing out, else she is going to be prey to them again.

"Can I have a word with you, Sky?" I called out.

She looked up at me but again shifted quickly to the smartwatch around her wrist.

She looked up again and shook her head. "No, not now. I have a class right now," she said.

"Right now?" I asked, stepping closer.

"Yes, she replied quickly. I have a class right now, and I need to go. We'll talk later."

Before I could say anything, she was already walking down the hall, leaving me and Jordan alone with each other.

"Look, dude, I know you're getting close to her for your crazy intentions, but I need you to back off," I said to Jordan immediately after she walked away.

He looked at me. A smirk appeared on his face and slowly turned into a crackle until he was laughing.

"What is so funny?" I asked, stepping closer to him.

"You need to see what you look like right now, Owen. You look like a teenage boy in love."

"Come on, we have a challenge going on. You don't need to cross my path, and I am not going to cross your path. We just have to play our cards right, and whoever wins will win."

"She is not some lottery," I said to him, cutting him off. "You cannot just play games on people." I fired.

"Oh really? Is that what you think? Then why did you agree to it last night? You told me you were not going to let me win, which makes it obvious. You want to win. You want to fuck her. Say the truth, Owen. You really want to get her laid, don't you?" He asked, stepping closer to me. I felt my whole body burn in rage.

I wanted to punch him, but I can't do that. I would be breaking a rule if I hit my teammate.

"This is not funny, Jordan. I really need you to back off, okay? I am not going to take it easy on you if you ever hurt her like that," I said to him.

Instead, he chuckled and began to walk away, nudging me out of his way.

I watched as the departing figure walked away slowly until he turned into the next corridor and disappeared.

"Please take care of her, Owen. She's all I've got."

Ryan's words replayed in my mind as I stood out there alone in the silent hallway.

How do I explain to him that the girl I promised to protect is now the centre of a very cruel challenge between me and an unrelenting teammate?